DARES

ΔΑΡΗΣ

Was, according to the Iliad (v. 9), a priest of Hephaestus at Troy. There existed in antiquity an Iliad or an account of the destruction of Troy, which was believed to be more ancient than the Homeric poems, and in fact to be the work of Dares, the priest of Hephaestus. (Ptolem. Hephaest. l; Eustath. ad Hom. Od. xi. 521.) Both these writers state, on the authority of Antipater of Acanthus, that Dares advised Hector not to kill Patroclus, and Eustathius adds, that Dares, after deserting to the Greeks, was killed by Odysseus, which event must have taken place after the fall of Troy, since Dares could not otherwise have written an account of the destruction of the city. In the time of Aelian ( V. H. xi. 2; comp. Isidor. Orig, i. 41) the Iliad of Dares, which he calls Phrugia Ilias, was still known to exist; he too mentions the belief that it was more ancient than Homer, and Isidorus states that it was written on palm-leaves. But no part or fragment of this ancient Iliad has come down to us, and it is therefore not easy to form a definite opinion upon the question. it is, however, of some interest to us, on account of a Latin work on the destruction or Troy, which has been handed down to us, and pretends to be a Latin translation of the ancient work of Dares. It bears the title "Daretis Phrygii de Excidio Trojae Historia." It is written in prose, consists of 44 chapters, and is preceded by a letter purporting to be addressed by Corn. Nepos to Sallustius Crispus.